San Diego RIPA Data Pillars Project
Descriptive Analysis
Catalyst California
11 August, 2023
Before engaging in a detailed analysis of SDPD patrol activity as outlined in the research plan, we created this descriptive analysis to explore overall trends in the SDPD RIPA data. This helps us determine if our expected findings are likely to show up in the data and allows us to identify any trends we did not expect. We include basis tallies on each of the following:
- Officer-initiated stops
- Time spent on stops by calls for service or officer-initiated stops
- Officer-initiated stops by stop reason
- Officer-initiated stops by stop result
- Hit rates among officer-initiated stops
- Officer-initiated stops by age
- Officer-initiated stops by race
- Officer-initiated stops by police beat
For each, we analyze SDPD stops overall and, where applicable, by assignment (gang enforcement) and SDPD division. Other than one analysis about stops over time, we focus on stops made in 2022. The numbers included in this analysis are preliminary and subject to change based on further analysis and review. Particularly, the reported time spent on stops will change as we complete outlier analysis to account for errors in the data.
Total Number of Stops and People Stopped
In 2022, there were 86,632 unique police stops. Of those stops, 79, 416 were officer-initiated stops. Gang enforcement made 420 unique stops in 2022. Of those stops, 397 were officer-initiated stops.
In 2022, 96,119 people were stopped by SDPD, 88,099 of which were stopped for an officer-initiated stop. Gang enforcement stopped 508 people in 2022; 484 people were stopped for an officer-initiated stop.
Number of Officer-Initiated Stops
The following takes a closer look at officer-initiated stops, including trends over time, by police assignment, and by division.
Over Time
The number of officer-initiated stops across all units peaked in 2019, decreasing between 2020-2022. The COVID-19 pandemic directly impacted police activity, making it unsurprising that there were less stops conducted overall.
SDPD stops under gang enforcement have decreased overtime, with a steep drop-off between 2021-2022. Notably, more officer-initiated stops under gang enforcement were made in 2020 than in 2021 and 2022 combined. The low number of gang enforcement stops could be explained by how agencies are required to record this data under RIPA regulations. Agencies are required to report the assignment of the officer at the time of the stop, not their unit. Gang suppression unit stops are likely under-counted and being made under a different assignment.
Year | All Units Total | Gang Enforcement Total |
|---|---|---|
2018 | 69,766 | 1,501 |
2019 | 142,663 | 3,263 |
2020 | 116,754 | 1,592 |
2021 | 104,561 | 643 |
2022 | 79,416 | 397 |
2023 | 21,578 | 95 |
By Police Assignment
Patrol, traffic enforcement, and field operations conduct the majority of officer-initiated stops, followed by the ‘Other’ unit category. While gang enforcement has the third highest rate of officer-initiated stops the overall count is low. This is most likely due to gang enforcement stops being conducted under a different unit assignment.
Year | Patrol Assignment | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Patrol, traffic enforcement, field operations | 79,416 | 77,386 | 97.4 |
2022 | Other | 79,416 | 1,121 | 1.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 79,416 | 397 | 0.5 |
2022 | Investigative/detective | 79,416 | 304 | 0.4 |
2022 | Narcotics/vice | 79,416 | 108 | 0.1 |
2022 | Special events | 79,416 | 45 | 0.1 |
2022 | K1-12 public school inlcuding school resource officer or school police officer | 79,416 | 43 | 0.1 |
2022 | Task force | 79,416 | 10 | 0.0 |
2022 | Compliance check | 79,416 | 2 | 0.0 |
By SDPD Division
High rates of officer-initiated stops are consistent across all police divisions. The highest number of officer-initiated stops occurs in the Central division while the highest percent of stops in the Northwestern division are made for officer-initiated reasons. These numbers do not control for the total population in each division.
Time Spent on Calls for Service versus Officer-initiated
The majority of officer time is spent on officer-initiated stops rather than calls for service with officers spending over 80% of their minutes on officer-initiated stops. This is true across all units, as well as for gang enforcement. Gang enforcement spends more time per stop on average especially for calls for service-an average time of 123.9 minutes compared to 59.3 minutes across all units. The median time gang enforcement spends on officer-initiated stops is slightly higher than the median time all units spend, 15 minutes versus 10 minutes respectively.
All Units
Year | Assignment | Call for Service | Count Mins | Percent Mins | Average Stop Time (Mins) | Median Stop Time (Mins) | Min Stop Time (Mins) | Max Stop Time (Mins) | Total Time (Mins) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | No | 2,173,760 | 83.5 | 27.4 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,440 | 2,601,943 |
2022 | All units | Yes | 428,183 | 16.5 | 59.3 | 30.0 | 1 | 1,220 | 2,601,943 |
Gang Enforcement
Year | Assignment | Call for Service | Count Mins | Percent Mins | Average Stop Time (Mins) | Median Stop Time (Mins) | Min Stop Time (Mins) | Max Stop Time (Mins) | Total Time (Mins) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Gang enforcement | No | 11,613 | 80.3 | 29.3 | 15 | 1 | 300 | 14,463 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Yes | 2,850 | 19.7 | 123.9 | 120 | 20 | 260 | 14,463 |
By SDPD Division
More than 75% of officer patrol time is spent on officer-initiated stops across all SDPD divisions with a median time of 10-15 minutes spent per stop. Officers who made stops in the Central and Northwestern divisions spent over 85% of their time on officer-initiated stops. For stops with unknown divisions, 96.4% of minutes spent on these stops are for officer-initiated stops. There is more variation in the median time spent on stops made for calls for service. Across divisions, a median time between 20 and 60 minutes is spent on stops made for calls for service.
Year | Division Name | Call for Service | Percent Mins | Average Stop Time (Mins) | Median Stop Time (Mins) | Min Stop Time (Mins) | Max Stop Time (Mins) | Total Time (Mins) | Count Mins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | CENTRAL | No | 90.3 | 28.7 | 15.0 | 1 | 1,440 | 516,736 | 466,435 |
2022 | CENTRAL | Yes | 9.7 | 41.5 | 20.0 | 1 | 420 | 516,736 | 50,301 |
2022 | EASTERN | No | 78.2 | 25.6 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,200 | 251,717 | 196,958 |
2022 | EASTERN | Yes | 21.8 | 61.4 | 30.0 | 1 | 540 | 251,717 | 54,759 |
2022 | MID-CITY | No | 79.5 | 28.4 | 15.0 | 1 | 1,300 | 314,395 | 249,843 |
2022 | MID-CITY | Yes | 20.5 | 52.3 | 30.0 | 2 | 480 | 314,395 | 64,552 |
2022 | NORTHEASTERN | No | 80.2 | 29.9 | 14.0 | 1 | 1,440 | 154,211 | 123,704 |
2022 | NORTHEASTERN | Yes | 19.8 | 75.9 | 45.0 | 2 | 600 | 154,211 | 30,507 |
2022 | NORTHERN | No | 81.6 | 24.7 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,330 | 386,829 | 315,534 |
2022 | NORTHERN | Yes | 18.4 | 67.1 | 30.0 | 1 | 1,220 | 386,829 | 71,295 |
2022 | NORTHWESTERN | No | 86.6 | 20.9 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,120 | 78,568 | 68,027 |
2022 | NORTHWESTERN | Yes | 13.4 | 69.8 | 60.0 | 5 | 300 | 78,568 | 10,541 |
2022 | SOUTHEASTERN | No | 81.2 | 28.6 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,400 | 251,024 | 203,877 |
2022 | SOUTHEASTERN | Yes | 18.8 | 75.0 | 60.0 | 1 | 480 | 251,024 | 47,147 |
2022 | SOUTHERN | No | 84.8 | 28.1 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,000 | 219,756 | 186,385 |
2022 | SOUTHERN | Yes | 15.2 | 65.6 | 45.0 | 1 | 360 | 219,756 | 33,371 |
2022 | UNKNOWN DIVISION | No | 96.4 | 16.6 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,212 | 47,934 | 46,214 |
2022 | UNKNOWN DIVISION | Yes | 3.6 | 86.0 | 40.0 | 1 | 540 | 47,934 | 1,720 |
2022 | WESTERN | No | 83.2 | 32.0 | 15.0 | 1 | 1,440 | 380,773 | 316,783 |
2022 | WESTERN | Yes | 16.8 | 58.0 | 30.0 | 1 | 600 | 380,773 | 63,990 |
Stop Reasons
The following explores the most common reasons for officer-initiated stops in 2022. Traffic violations and reasonable suspicion are the most common stop reasons as is common in other local law enforcement agencies.
By Police Assignment
Traffic violations are the most common stop reason for officer-initiated stops, followed by reasonable suspicion, across all police units and for gang enforcement. However, nearly 70% of all officer-initiated stops conducted under gang enforcement are for traffic violations, with only 24% being conducted for reasonable suspicion. Traffic violation stops are a more significant majority of all gang enforcement stops.
Year | Assignment | Reason for stop | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | Traffic Violation | 88,099 | 48,926 | 55.5 |
2022 | All units | Reasonable Suspicion | 88,099 | 36,341 | 41.3 |
2022 | All units | Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person | 88,099 | 1,281 | 1.5 |
2022 | All units | Investigation to determine whether the person was truant | 88,099 | 734 | 0.8 |
2022 | All units | Known to be on Parole / Probation / PRCS / Mandatory Supervision | 88,099 | 553 | 0.6 |
2022 | All units | Consensual Encounter resulting in a search | 88,099 | 262 | 0.3 |
2022 | All units | Determine whether the student violated school policy | 88,099 | 2 | 0.0 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Traffic Violation | 484 | 341 | 70.5 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Reasonable Suspicion | 484 | 114 | 23.6 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person | 484 | 16 | 3.3 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Known to be on Parole / Probation / PRCS / Mandatory Supervision | 484 | 6 | 1.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Investigation to determine whether the person was truant | 484 | 4 | 0.8 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Consensual Encounter resulting in a search | 484 | 3 | 0.6 |
By SDPD Division
The majority of officer-initiated stops across SDPD divisions are for traffic violations, with the second most common officer-initiated stop being for reasonable suspicion. There is no third stop reason that has a rate comparable to traffic Violations or reasonable suspicion.
Notably, the Southeastern division disproportionately includes stops for traffic violations relative to reasonable suspicion, along with the Northwestern, Northeastern, and unknown divisions. The Central and Western divisions have the highest rates of stops for reasonable suspicion at over 50% of stops made for reasonable suspicion.
Stop Results
The following explores how officer-initiated stops concluded in 2022, or the result of the stop. This analysis does not control for instances where a stop concluded in more than one result. Controlling for unique person and stop will subsequently slightly change these trends.
By Police Assignment
Across all police units, Citation for Infraction and Warning (verbal or written) are the most common stop results, at 27.5% and 25.8% respectively. These two stop results make up approximately half of all stop results.
Results from gang enforcement stops do not mirror the trends across all police units. The most common stop result for a gang enforcement stop is Field Interview Card Completed, comprising of 40.2% of all stop results. Warning (verbal or written) has the second highest rate at 20.6%.
Year | Assignment | Result of Stop | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | Citation for infraction | 95,543 | 26,229 | 27.5 |
2022 | All units | Warning (verbal or written) | 95,543 | 24,643 | 25.8 |
2022 | All units | Field interview card completed | 95,543 | 12,377 | 13.0 |
2022 | All units | Custodial Arrest without warrant | 95,543 | 10,317 | 10.8 |
2022 | All units | No Action | 95,543 | 9,129 | 9.6 |
2022 | All units | Custodial Arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant | 95,543 | 4,172 | 4.4 |
2022 | All units | Psychiatric hold | 95,543 | 3,793 | 4.0 |
2022 | All units | In-field cite and release | 95,543 | 3,136 | 3.3 |
2022 | All units | Noncriminal transport or caretaking transport | 95,543 | 1,410 | 1.5 |
2022 | All units | Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor | 95,543 | 330 | 0.3 |
2022 | All units | Contacted U.S. Department of Homeland Security | 95,543 | 3 | 0.0 |
2022 | All units | Referral to school administrator | 95,543 | 3 | 0.0 |
2022 | All units | Referral to school counselor or other support staff | 95,543 | 1 | 0.0 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Field interview card completed | 500 | 201 | 40.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Warning (verbal or written) | 500 | 103 | 20.6 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Custodial Arrest without warrant | 500 | 62 | 12.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | No Action | 500 | 51 | 10.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Citation for infraction | 500 | 36 | 7.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Custodial Arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant | 500 | 21 | 4.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Psychiatric hold | 500 | 17 | 3.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | In-field cite and release | 500 | 7 | 1.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor | 500 | 2 | 0.4 |
By SDPD Division
Stop result trends vary across SDPD divisions. A higher percentage of results in the Southeastern division are for No Action, or no result. Results in the Northeastern and Northern divisions are more likely to include Citation for Infraction. Results in the Central division_ are most likely to include a Field Interview Card Completed. And stops in the Northwestern, Mid-City, and Southeastern division are more likely to result in a Warning.
Hit Rates
This analysis looks at what percentage of stops that resulted in a search produced contraband, also known as the hit rate.
By Police Assignment
In approximately 70% of people searched, SDPD police found no contraband. This rate is similar across all units and gang enforcement stops.
Year | Assignment | Contraband | Search Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | None | 19,754 | 73.9 |
2022 | All units | One or more items found | 19,754 | 26.1 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | None | 209 | 71.8 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | One or more items found | 209 | 28.2 |
By SDPD Division
Across divisions, other than unknown divisions, more than 70% of stops where a search took place result in no evidence or contraband found. Stops where a search took place in the Eastern division have the highest hit rates (29.6%). The Southeastern division has the second highest hit rate (27.7%), not including unknown divisions.
Age Demographics
The following looks at the age distribution of people stopped in officer-initiated stops in 2022.
By Police Assignment
Gang enforcement stops target more individuals under 18 and between the ages of 18-34 compared to all police units.Over 2.5 times the rate of people under 18 are stopped under gang enforcement compared to all units.
Year | Assignment | Age | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | 18 and under | 88,099 | 3,293 | 3.7 |
2022 | All units | 19-24 | 88,099 | 10,738 | 12.2 |
2022 | All units | 25-34 | 88,099 | 28,760 | 32.6 |
2022 | All units | 35-44 | 88,099 | 20,691 | 23.5 |
2022 | All units | 45-54 | 88,099 | 13,769 | 15.6 |
2022 | All units | 55-64 | 88,099 | 7,846 | 8.9 |
2022 | All units | 65 and older | 88,099 | 3,002 | 3.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 18 and under | 484 | 48 | 9.9 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 19-24 | 484 | 88 | 18.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 25-34 | 484 | 174 | 36.0 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 35-44 | 484 | 95 | 19.6 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 45-54 | 484 | 41 | 8.5 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 55-64 | 484 | 25 | 5.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 65 and older | 484 | 13 | 2.7 |
By SDPD Division
In the Northwestern, Southeastern, and Southern divisions, a higher percentage of people under 18 are stopped than people 65 and older. While all divisions follow a similar age distribution in people stopped, the Southeastern division has the highest percentage of people stopped in the 25-34 and 19-24 age brackets other than stops in unknown divisions.
Race/Ethnicity Demographics
The following analyzes the distribution of people stopped by race as perceived by officers. All groups are exclusive of Latinx other than Latinx, South Asian/Southwest Asian/North African (SSWANA), Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (NHPI), and American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN).SSWANA, NHPI, and AIAN include people who were perceived as each of these groups alone or in combination with another race or Latinx.
By Police Assignment
The gang enforcement assignment disproportionately targets Black and Latinx individuals. Stops made under this assignment also result in half the percentage of people perceived as White compared to all units.
Year | Assignment | Race | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | White NH | 88,099 | 32,133 | 36.5 |
2022 | All units | Latinx | 88,099 | 30,236 | 34.3 |
2022 | All units | Black NH | 88,099 | 16,874 | 19.2 |
2022 | All units | Asian NH | 88,099 | 4,603 | 5.2 |
2022 | All units | SSWANA | 88,099 | 3,052 | 3.5 |
2022 | All units | NHPI | 88,099 | 871 | 1.0 |
2022 | All units | Multiracial | 88,099 | 513 | 0.6 |
2022 | All units | AIAN | 88,099 | 228 | 0.3 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Latinx | 484 | 194 | 40.1 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Black NH | 484 | 157 | 32.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | White NH | 484 | 89 | 18.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Asian NH | 484 | 33 | 6.8 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | SSWANA | 484 | 7 | 1.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | AIAN | 484 | 3 | 0.6 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Multiracial | 484 | 1 | 0.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | NHPI | 484 | 0 | 0.0 |
By SDPD Division
Stops made in the Southeastern division disproportionately include Black and Latinx individuals relative to other racial groups. Stops in the Southern division have the highest percentage of people perceived as Latinx stopped. Stops in the Southeastern division have the highest percentage of people perceived as Black stopped, and second highest percentage of people perceived as Latinx stopped.
Map of Officer-Initiated Stops
This map shows the count of officer-initiated stops in 2022 by police beat for all police units and for the gang enforcement unit. This map does not control for total population in each police beat.
There is a highest density of stops in several police beats in the Northern, Southern, and Northwestern divisions.There are relatively few stops for the gang enforcement assignment. Several police beats in the Northern and Southeastern divisions have a higher density of gang enforcement stops.